They say it's not what you know, but who you know that propels you to the top. This adage appears remarkably accurate when examining the interconnected world of global celebrities. From Hollywood icons and political leaders to pop stars and royalty, many of the world's most famous individuals have been discovered to share unexpected genealogical connections. Delving into the family histories of the rich and famous has revealed numerous surprising links that have often astonished the stars themselves.
Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour: Fashionable Relations
Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour are already famously linked through the actress's portrayal of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, a character widely believed to be inspired by the former Vogue editor. However, their connection extends beyond cinema into actual family ties. Research conducted by Ancestry.com has confirmed that the two women, both aged 76, are sixth cousins. They share fifth great-grandparents, Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, who resided in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
The genealogy company made this discovery after analyzing billions of historical records and public family trees. The pair have met several times since the 2006 film, including attending the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Fashion Week and appearing together on a recent Vogue cover.
Political and Hollywood Crossovers
Brad Pitt and Barack Obama
During the 2008 presidential campaign trail, it was revealed that President Barack Obama is distantly related to film star Brad Pitt. The Guardian explained that the pair are ninth cousins, sharing Edwin Hickman, who died in Virginia in 1769, as a common ancestor. Obama descends directly from Hickman's son James through his mother, Ann Dunham Sutoro, while Hickman's other son, Edwin Jr., leads to Brad Pitt's lineage.
When asked about this unexpected connection on The View, the former US President humorously remarked: 'I think he got the better-looking side of the gene pool.'
Dakota and Elle Fanning and Kate Middleton
Elle Fanning's penchant for portraying royalty, having played Disney's Sleeping Beauty and Catherine the Great, might be in her blood. Ancestry.com discovered that she and her sister Dakota Fanning are descendants of King Edward III, making them 21st cousins to the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton.
Speaking about their royal connection in 2014, Elle told E! News: 'It's so weird… it's crazy. My cousins called me up and they were like, "Look online!" I looked online and like King Edward III is my great great-great-grandfather. I was like, "Is this real?"'
Unexpected Religious Connections
Madonna and Pope Leo XIV
Madonna, who has notoriously clashed with the Catholic Church over her use of religious imagery, was revealed last year to be related to Pope Leo XIV. Henry Louis Gates Jr., host of Finding Your Roots, shared that the pair are 'ninth cousins, various times removed' through a distant maternal relative born in the 1590s.
Madonna quickly shared the news on her Instagram Story, declaring him her 'distant relative.' This revelation likely surprised the Church, given Madonna's history of controversy, including the 1989 Like a Prayer music video featuring burning crosses and an erotic depiction of Jesus, which led Pope John Paul II to encourage boycotts of her concerts in Italy.
Hollywood's Cousin Club
Niecy Nash, Sterling K. Brown, and Danielle Brooks
In 2024, fans were astonished to learn that three award-nominated Hollywood stars—Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts, This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown, and Orange Is the New Black's Danielle Brooks—are cousins. Revealed on Finding Your Roots, their connection shows talent runs strong in their family.
Niecy explained: 'We were all like, “Wait, what?” [All of our families] have roots in St. Louis. Now that we all know, anytime we’re in the same venue, we’re like, “Cousins unite!”' Danielle added that the connection 'felt right,' as she had known Sterling through the theatre scene and Niecy had mentored her in the industry.
Naomi Campbell and Sandi Bogle
In another surprising crossover, Gogglebox favourite Sandi Bogle is the cousin of supermodel Naomi Campbell. Sandi revealed this connection during her time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, noting that Naomi's mother is her mum's sister.
Sandi shared: 'Naomi watches me on [Gogglebox] and she loves it. We support each other in whatever we do.' She confirmed in 2023 that she has met Naomi's daughter and that they catch up at family events, describing it as 'a family thing.'
Comedic and Musical Links
Larry David and Bernie Sanders
Larry David, who famously portrayed Bernie Sanders on Saturday Night Live, was stunned to discover they are distant cousins, sharing similar Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry from the same region in Europe. Upon learning this on Finding Your Roots, Larry exclaimed: 'What the hell! Oh that is so funny, that is amazing. Alright, cousin Bernie!'
Bernie Sanders reacted with shocked laughter, saying: 'You're kidding! That is unbelievable!' He later joked: 'When people talk to me about Larry David, I say "You know he does a better Bernie Sanders than I do."'
Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler
Ashley Tisdale was nearly brought to tears when she discovered she and her former co-star Austin Butler are 10th cousins once removed. The High School Musical star found out on a 2022 episode of Ancestry's 2 Lies & A Leaf series.
Ashley said: 'Austin and I always say that we're like fraternal twins born very far apart because he's much younger and we've always had that connection. No wonder we have such a connection! We've always said we were brother and sister!' She texted Austin the news, and he responded: 'No f***ing way!'
Lance Bass and Britney Spears
Iconic noughties pop stars Britney Spears and Lance Bass are sixth cousins, once removed. Lance learned this on a 2021 episode of Ancestry's YouTube show, 2 Lies and a Leaf, saying: 'Look, I wanted to be related to the Queen. Well, now I'm related to the queen of pop!'
He added: 'This means so much to me. She is like family to me. So, the fact that we are blood-related is amazing.' Britney later referred to herself as an 'auntie' to Lance's twins in 2023.
Cinematic and Television Kinships
Tom Hanks and Fred Rogers
Tom Hanks discovered he was sixth cousins with the late Fred Rogers after portraying him in the 2019 biopic, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Ancestry found records showing they share the same five-times great-grandfather, Johannes Mefford, born in 1732.
Fred's widow, Joanne, was delighted, saying: 'That is just wonderful. Now, that is amazing and Fred would have loved it. He loved family tree stuff.'
Hugh Grant and Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Love Actually co-stars Hugh Grant and Thomas Brodie-Sangster are actually second cousins, once removed. Thomas revealed this on set when he was 13, saying Hugh initially didn't know. Thomas recalled: 'I said, “Apparently, you are my uncle or my cousin or something”. Then he kind of remembered my mum and uncle.' Hugh then affectionately called him 'cousin' and ruffled his hair for the rest of the shoot.
These discoveries highlight how interconnected the world of fame truly is, proving that behind the glitz and glamour, many celebrities share deeper, familial bonds that often go unnoticed until genealogical research brings them to light.
